Edger and trimmer



Aug. 29, 1967 Filed May 5, 1965 EDGER MELTZER AND TRIMMER 4 Sheets-Sheet l 24 2/ 44 i5 44 a? i. 2

INENTOR- HENRY a MELTZER Aug. 29. 67 H. E. MELTZER 3,338,314

EDGER AND TRIMMER Filed May 5. 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet z 4: 6/ 77 38 Hull-"uh" 8/ *4/30 INVENTOR HENRY E. MELTZEF? 29, 1967 H. E. MELTZER 3,338,314

EDGER AND TRIMMER Filed May 5. 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR HENRY E. MELTZER Aug. 29, 1967 H. E. MELTZER 3,338,314

EDGER AND TRIMMER Filed May 3, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 2/ u j w w m p.

:IIIILI INVENTOR HENRY E. MELTZER 14 WWW United States Patent 3,338,314 EDGER AND TRIMMER Henry E. Meltzer, 1745 Flett St, Racine, Wis. 53201 Filed May 3, 1965, Ser. No. 452,683 7 Claims. (Cl. 17215) This invention appertains broadly to lawn manicuring devices, and more particularly to a new and useful improvement in powered edgers, trimmers and the like.

Powered lawn edgers and trimmers generally include a running frame carrying a drive wheel and a trimmer or cutter blade which extends below the rim of the drive wheel and running gear and is adapted to be positioned adjacent the edge of a cement walk or the like to trim excess grass and weeds therefrom and'to cut a groove in the ground adjacent the walk.

As far as known, all prior devices have presented serious problems both in use, and in the storage of the devices when not in use. One of the problems arises due to the fact that the blade in operative position must extend below the drive wheel and running gear in order to properly cut a groove adjacent the edge of the walk. Thus, when moving the device to another location there is great danger that the blade will be damaged, and in most instances the entire device must be tilted back on the rear wheels and moved in this awkward manner, with the handle practically adjacent the ground. Further, when stored,

the blade projects below the wheels and the device is either rested on the blade or is canted at an angle position. Thus, the blade may become bent or damaged. In order to correct this problem, certain devices have been equipped with stands and the like to support the device with the blade protruding thereunder. This, of course, entails another piece of equipment. Further, prior edgers do not have a steady, positive drive with tension on the drive wheel, and the drive means at all times, and the blade does not follow the edge of the walk unless considerable dexterity and effort is put into guiding the device properly in relation to the edge.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved trimmer and edger which overcomes all of the above difliculties, and wherein the blade is so constructed and arranged that it is selfaligning with the edge of the walk, thus the device follows the walk edge with considerable ease and without much effort on the part of the user.

Another important part of the present invention is to provide an edger and trimmer wherein when it is in its operative position and blade will project below the drive wheel and running gear, but wherein in its inoperative position the drive wheel as well as the blade is elevated above the ground surface and the device may be readily moved or stored in an upright position without any damage to the blade whatever.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lawn trimmer and edger provided with a sturdy one-piece frame carrying a steady rest or bar, located on the outside of the cutter blade, which materially aids in supporting the shaft and drive mechanism for the blade, as well as forming a guard against the throwing of stones and the like.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an edger and cutter, wherein the running gear in its inoperative position, includes at least two front wheels which may be moved up and down in relation to the main frame and which act to properly balance the device when in its inoperative rolling position, and to steady the device when thernain drive wheel is engaged.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel means for raising and lowering the front wheels in relation to the frame, such means including a latch to properly regulate the spring tension of the front wheels when the device is in its inoperative position.

A salient feature of the invention resides in the fact that there is tension on the drive means for the drive wheel at all times, and such tension is self-adjustable whereby even, steady drive is assured regardless of the conditions met.

Another important feature of the invention lies in the fact that the blade rotates in the opposite direction from the direction of movement of the edger, and the bevel of each blade is so arranged as to guide and position the blade against the walk edge, and this particular arrangement also enables the blade to be self-sharpening.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and reliable construction that is economical to manufacture, easy to assemble and positive in its operation.

With the above and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

One preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view showing the edger and trimmer in its inoperative position, for movement to and from the work, with the cover being shown in its closed position full line and in an intermediate open position dotted line;

FIGURE 2 is a top elevational view of the edger shown in its operative position relative to a walk and lawn edge;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, but with certain parts being broken away and in section to illustrate further details in its construction;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary top elevational view looking through the cover, with the cover being broken away and in section to clearly show the inner construction;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIGURE '3 of the drawings, but showing the device in operative position, and clearly illustrating the position of the blade in relation to the lawn and walk edge;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view similar to FIG- URE 3, showing the device in its inoperative position for movement to and from the work, but looking at the opposite side from that shown in FIGURE 3, with parts also broken away and in section to illustrate details of construction;

FIGURE 7 is a rear elevational view of the device shown in its operative position, certain parts being broken away and in section, and the section being represented by the line 77 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary transverse section taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 3, and looking in the direction of the arrows, and illustrating more particularly details in the support for the drive pulleys, and

FIGURE 9 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 4 of the drawings, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter E generally indicates the new and improved edger, and the same includes broadly a longitudinally extending frame or car- 1 riage 20, carrying the motor M, blade 21, drive wheel 22,

as well as rear wheels or rollers 23, and the front wheels or rollers 24. The frame 20 may, if desired, be formed of a continuous metal plate, but as shown, the same includes a front plate 25, the forward end of which is upturned and provided with a laterally extending brace 26 to which is welded a leaf 27 of each hinge 28. The other leaf of each hinge is, of course, firmly secured to the cover 29. Also projecting forwardly from the member 26 is a stop rest 30, which aids in supporting the cover in its dotted line position, FIGURE 3, when the cover is pivoted to its open position. Welded or otherwise secured to the for ward plate 25 is the rear plate 31 and this plate forms the base for the motor M and at its rear end termination is also provided with an upwardly extending transverse supporting member 32. This member 32 carries at its outward end terminations pins 33 which are engaged by the pivoted latch members 34, secured to the forward portion of the cover. It should also be noted that the cover includes side panels 35 respectively, which effectively cover and protect the inner mechanism of the edger and the curved portion of the cover is provided with a large cut out portion 36 to accommodate the rearwardly extending handle 37, and the operating mechanism 38 for the raising and lowering of the front wheels 24. On the side of the machine carrying the cutter 21, member 32 is extended forwardly and welded or otherwise secured to this forward projection 39 is a steady bar or rest 40, and the other end is bolted or otherwise secured to a laterally extending brace member 41, which is, in turn connected to plate 25, as shown more clearly in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to FIGURE 4 of the drawings, it can be seen that the motor is firmly secured to the base plate 31, in any desired manner, and mounted upon its shaft 42 is the blade 21. The outer termination of the shaft is journalled to a bearing 43, which in turn, is carried by the steady rest or bar 40, and thus it can be seen that the shaft carrying the cutter is firmly held in a steady position. Also journalled to this shaft is a smaller drive pulley 44 over which is trained in drive connection with a larger pulley 46, a drive belt 45. Pulley 46 is journalled to a shaft 47 which by means of mount 48, the details of which will be later described, is allowed a slight lateral movement with respect to its base plate 31, and to the other end of this shaft is journalled the drive pulley 49. Pulley 49 is in drive connection with a pulley wheel 50 and this pulley wheel 50 is in turn journalled to shaft 51 which drives the drive wheel 22 of the edger. It is important now to note that the blade is rotated by the motor in a direction indicated by the arrows in FIGURES 1, 4 and of the drawings, and this direction is to be considered a clockwise rotation when viewed from the left side 52 of the machine, and the drive wheel therefore must rotate in a counter-clockwise direction in order to pull the machine forward in the direction of the arrows, FIGURES 2 and 5 of the drawings. To accomplish this, it is merely necessary to cross or twist drive belt 53 and then the drive and rotation of the various members will be as indicated by the arrows in FIGURE 4 of the drawings.

This feature, that is the rotation of the cutting blade in a clockwise direction, is important, particularly since it should be noted that the bevel (note FIG. 5) 54 of each of the cutting members 55 is located on the outside of the blade, and thus, as the blade moves through the earth in the direction of the arrow, the earth will be forced to the outer side 52 of the machine and will conversely press the blade inwardly toward the edge S of the walk W. This will automatically keep the machine in alignment and against the edge as it is performing its operation.

Another important feature of this edger resides in the adjustability of the angle of the handle 37 and it should be noted that the handle is pivoted at 56 and adjacent the handle and above the pivot point (FIGURE 6) is a notched plate or ratchet arrangement 57. The handle carries a spring detent or plunger 58 which is adapted to rest in any one of the notches. This detent or plunger is urged by a spring 60 into its respective notch and may be withdrawn by pulling upwardly on the rod 61 which is in turn fastened to the pivoted lever 62, as shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings. Thus the height and angle of the handle may be adjusted to the desired angle according to the need of the operator.

A very important feature of this invention is the novel mounting of the front wheels which provides in effect an independent suspension for each wheel and at the same time provides means whereby the front wheels will move up and down in relation to the main frame 25 to provide in one position a free running gear with the cutting blade held above the surface, and which in another position will allow the frame to be lowered and the cutting blade to extend below the drive wheel and running gear for an operative position. For this purpose, therefore, each of the front wheels 24 is mounted on separate and independent brackets 63, and each bracket is identical, in that, there is provision at the lower end 64 thereof to provide stub axles 65 carrying the bearing for each wheel. Each bracket also has a pair of spaced parallel inwardly extending mounting arms 66 (note particularly FIGURE 9) threadedly received in suitable apertures on frame 25 in spaced relation to a pair of upright rods 67. Each rod is threaded at both ends and the lower end 68 is threadedly received in its respective aperture on frame 25 so that the rod may be adjusted and held rigidly in its adjusted upright position and this adjustment is had by the provision of the lower nuts 69. Each rod also carries an upper adjusting nut 70 and this nut is for the purpose of limiting the upward movement of each leg 71 of a saddle member 72. This saddle member carries apertures so that they are freely slidable on the rod 67 and can be moved from a full line position to dotted line position (FIGURE 9) and obviously, each bracket 63 due to the weight of the frame will follow the saddle member upwardly. Between the saddle member and the upper inwardly directed mounting arms 66 is a spring 73 which surrounds the rod and forms a spring suspension system for its respective wheel regardless of the position of the saddle and wheel brackets. Thus, in effect,

I when the wheels are in position shown in FIGURES 6 and 9, and the cutter is held above the walk or surface W each wheel is independently mounted and under spring tension, but each wheel moves in unison when the saddle is moved upwardly and the drive wheel 22 is engaged, as shown better in FIGURE 5 of the drawings. Therefore, each of the member 66 are freely slidable on the respective rod 67 and each assembly moves in unison with the movement of the saddle member. Therefore it is necessary when the cutter blade is elevated that some :provision be made to operate and move the saddle member up and down and primarily to lock the saddle member in its lower position. This, of course, could be accomplished in a number of ways, but in the preferred form of the invention, I mount the saddle member 72 on a pivoted lever 74, which is pivoted intermediate its length on an upright support 75 provided for that purpose (note FIGURE 6). By means of link 76, lever 74 is pivotally connected to the operating arm 77 and this arm is also pivotally mounted intermediate its length at 78 to an upright support 79 provided for that purpose. The outer rear portion of operating arm 77 is provided with a foot rest 80, which is utilized for the purpose of pivoting the rear portion of operating arm 77 downwardly from a position shown in FIGURE 5 to the position shown in FIGURE 6 of the drawings, and when the operating arm is thus moved through the pivoted link and lever 74, saddle member 72 will be pushed down and will urge each of the brackets 63 carrying its respective wheel 27 downwardly and raise the main frame upwardly at an angle as shown. To hold operating lever 77 in this position a latch mechanism is provided and this is illustrated more clearly in FIGURE 7 of the drawings, wherein a latch 81 engages over arm 77 as shown, and is urged in its locked engaged position by means of spring 82. A foot rest 83 is also secured to the latch 81 so that by pressing downwardly in the direction of the arrow, FIGURE 7, on the foot rest 83 latch 81 will be urged from its full line position to dotted line position, and operating arm 77 released. This will allow saddle 72 to move upwardly on the rods 67 and the frame to move downwardly by gravity so that the blade engages the edge of the ground to be trimmed and grooved.

It is important again to note that in this structure, spring tension at all times is provided between the saddle leg 71 and members 66 of bracket 63, so that each wheel is under spring tension at all times.

Stillanother salient feature of this invention resides in the means for compensating for and providing for even tension for each drive belt 45 and 53, and for this purpose, pulleys 46 and 49, and particularly the axle 47 therefor, are carried by an upright support 84 which is swivelly mounted on frame member 31, as shown more clearly in FIGURE 8 of the drawings, by means of the swivel connection 85. Thus, it can be seen that axle 74 can move or be pivoted laterally in relation to the frame member 31 and any differences in tension between the drive pulleys will be automatically compensated for. Also it is important, if for some reason frame 31 might be slightly out of alignment, this mounting will readily compensate and alleviate this trouble. It is important, however, to provide a limit to the movement of the axle 47, and this is done by means of an adjusting rod 86 (FIGURE 6), and this rod carries an arm 87 which extends through the support member 84, and limits the forward movement thereof by means of nut 88. Primarily, however, by adjusting the nut 89, the limit to which support 84 will pivot will be controlled. Initially, this support is adjusted so that the proper tension is had on the drive pulleys and then any slight differences in belt tension will be compensated for by the lateral movement of suporting member. It should also be noted that on cover 29 an arrow 90 is mounted, and this arrow is positioned over the cutter blade 21 in alignment therewith, so that at all times the location of the blade is easily noted. This, of course, provides an easy alignment of the blade with the edge of the lawn L (see FIGURE 2).

While motor M has been shown as an electric motor, any type of drive motor could be utilized. In the preferred form, however, the electric motor has been found to be more advantageous, and power for this motor is provided by means of the electric cord 91 which runs up through the handle 37 to an extension and outlet plug, not shown. Switch 92 is also provided for turning on and off the source of electric energy.

It might be noted that handle 37 is formed in the shape of a V to provide grips 93 for each hand and this facilitates the easy balancing and operation of the edger by the operator.

In use of the edger, it will be assumed that the front wheels 24 are in their ground engaging position, shown in FIGURES 1, 3, 6 and 9 of the drawings, and thus, the edger E can be readily rolled on a supporting surface to the place where the work is to be accomplished. The arrow 90 is then aligned with the edge of the lawn L, latch 81 is released by pressure being placed on the foot rest 83 and the frame will move downwardly, as the front wheels and their brackets move upwardly in relation to the rod 67. When the saddle members 71 engage the adjusting and stop nuts 70, wheels 24 will be in the position shown primarily in FIGURES 5 and 7 of the drawings, and will still aid in the proper balancing of the edger, but drive wheel 22 will now engage the walk W and blade 21 will rotate in the direction of the arrows FIGURE 5, and trim the excess grass and weeds from the walk, at the same time cutting the groove G in the lawn L.

Attention is again directed to the self-aligning feature of the blade 21, as well as the self-sharpening feature and to the fact that the front wheels are at all times under spring suspension and aid in the proper balancing and handling of the edger. The adjustment of the angle of the handle is also important since it enables the edger to be utilized by persons of different sizes without. any discomfort. Attention is also directed to the fact that the steady rest or bar 40 is positioned outside of the blade and aids in providing a solid frame construction and prevents stones and the like from damaging the blade and other parts of the edger.

While certain specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be understood that these are merely for the purpose of illustration and description, that various other forms may be devised, and that changes in the proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the appended claims:

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a powered lawn edger and trimmer, a longitudinally extending base frame, a running gear carried by said frame including a drive wheel and a pair of spaced upright rolling wheels, a cutter blade carried by said frame the outer peripheral edge of which extends beyond the outer peripheries of said wheels, a motor mounted on said frame, drive means operatively connecting said blade and said drive wheel to said motor, a pair of independently mounted wheels adjacent said drive wheel mounted one on either side thereof and movable up and down in relation to said frame, means for simultaneously raising and lowering said last mentioned wheels, said wheels in one position having their outer peripheries extending beyond the outer peripheral edge of said blade and in another position lying in the same plane as the drive wheel, and means for releasably holding said last mentioned wheels in said first position.

2. A lawn edger and trimmer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said drive means operatively connecting said blade and drive wheel to said motor includes, a series of pulleys and drive belts so constructed and arranged that the drive wheel is driven in one direction and said cutter blade is driven in the opposite direction and said cutter blade carries a series of outwardly projecting blades, said beveled edge of each blade lying on the side adjacent the outer end of the machine whereby said blade will be forced against the walk edge.

3. A lawn edger and trimmer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for raising and lowering said last mentioned wheels includes, a pair of spaced upright rods carried by said frame, a mounting bracket slidably received on its respective rod having a stub axle at its lower end termination upon which a respective wheel is rotatably mounted, a saddle each leg of which freely and slidably receives a respective rod, a spring about each rod between a respective saddle leg and a respective portion of said mounting bracket and means for positively moving said saddle in a downward direction.

4. A lawn edger and trimmer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for locking said last mentioned wheels in ground engaging position includes an operating arm in link connection with a lever carrying a saddle and a latch engageable over said operating arm to releasably hold said arm in its lower position.

5. A lawn edger and trimmer as set forth in claim 2, wherein said drive means and series of pulleys and drive belts include, a motor drive shaft having said blade mounted directly thereon for turning said blade in a direction opposite from the direction of travel of said machine, a pulley mounted on the outer end of said shaft in spaced relation to said blade, a transversely extending shaft and axle carried by said frame spaced from and in substantial parallelism to said motor drive shaft, a pulley mounted on each end termination of said axle, a second transversely extending shaft in substantial parallelism to said axle and motor drive shaft rotatably mounted on said frame on the opposite side of said motor from said first axle and shaft, said second shaft having mounted thereon said drive wheel, a pulley secured to said second shaft adjacent its end opposite said blade, a pair of drive belts, each belt in drive connection with an aligned pair of pulleys and extending longitudinally with the machine, one of said belts having a crossover and twist of its upper and lower flights to give a reverse direction to the rotation of its aligned pulleys, whereby the drive wheel and blade are rotated in opposite directions.

6. A lawn edger and trimmer as set forth in claim 5, wherein said first transversely extending shaft and axle is mounted on said frame by means of a swivel mount connection, whereby the relative times of the two drive belts are automatically adjusted.

7. A lawn edger and trimmer as set forth in claim 5, wherein a longitudinally extending bar and steady rest is secured to said frame on the side adjacent said blade and in alignment with the outer end of said motor drive shaft, and outer end of said motor drive shaft being rotatably journalled to said steady rest.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,791,875 5/1957 Faas 172-45 X 2,847,813 8/1958 Hanson et al 56--25.4 3,130,793 4/ 1964 Allegretti 172-45 ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

J. R. OAKS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A POWERED LAWN EDGER AND TRIMMER, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BASE FRAME, A RUNNING GEAR CARRIED BY SAID FRAME INCLUDING A DRIVE WHEEL AND A PAIR OF SPACED UPRIGHT ROLLING WHEELS, A CUTTER BLADE CARRIED BY SAID FRAME THE OUTER PERIPHERAL EDGE OF WHICH EXTENDS BEYOND THE OUTER PERIPHERIES OF SAID WHEELS, A MOTOR MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, DRIVE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID BLADE AND SAID DRIVE WHEEL TO SAID MOTOR, A PAIR OF INDEPENDENTLY MOUNTED WHEELS ADJACENT SAID DRIVE WHEEL MOUNTED ONE ON EITHER SIDE THEREOF AND MOVABLE UP AND DOWN IN RELATION TO SAID FRAME, MEANS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY RAISING AND LOWERING SAID LAST MENTIONED WHEELS, SAID WHEELS IN ONE POSITIONED HAVING THEIR OUTER PERIPHERIES EXTENDING BEYOND THE OUTER PERIPHERAL EDGE OF SAID BLADE AND IN ANOTHER POSITION LYING IN THE SAME PLANE AS THE DRIVE WHEEL, AND MEANS FOR RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID LAST MENTIONED WHEELS IN SAID FIRST POSITION. 